Family Vacations

I just got back from a week with my two sisters and 95 year old mother at the place we have all been going since we were babies. I really like my sisters- they are quite different and in general we get along well. But in our family, bringing up anything that might cause conflict has never been common. And of course over the years, the three of us have built up patterns with each other, not all of which are healthy.

So I think we were all a bit nervous about spending this week together, as well as excited. On the first day, one of my sisters who has been on a trip with AGC said "Let's do what we always do on Marian's trips- let's talk about our hopes and expectations for the week." It was perfect. We talked about that, we talked about things that had built up, and in general it set the tone for the best week we have ever had together. --Marian

A totally delightful movie

Every once in a while someone asks if the inspiration for the name of our company came from an independent Canadian film called Strangers in Good Company. Yes! Yes, it did, and if you haven't see the film, you should put it on your list. This may be one of the most charming movies ever made. It is about a group of eight women whose bus breaks down in an isolated area. Made with non-professional actresses and ad-libbed dialogue, they share their stories and thoughts and turn what could be a time of crisis into a time of magic and connection.If you like plot-driven action-packed films, you might find this boring. But if you like movies about relationships and interesting people, you'll love this one.-- Marian

Hiking trips overseas

I am about to depart for our trip to Bulgaria and there are 2 travel tips on my mind. Many of us worry when we travel that our luggage may not make it when we do. if you are setting off immediately on a hiking trip (or any outdoor trip) this can be even more worrisome. One thing we recommend is that you wear your hiking boots on the plane. This way, if your luggage does get lost, at least you will have these. Clothing can be borrowed and bought, but your boots are broken in to your feet, and getting a new pair or borrowing another person's probably won't do.

They are not the most comfortable "plane shoes", so bring a pair of slippers as well (or a cozy pair of socks) so you can take your boots off during the long flight. You may also want to throw your fleece in your day bag for the plane - this can double as a pillow for the flight, a warm layer if that a/c gets too cold, and you will also have one extra layer should your bag not arrive.

The other thing people wonder about is hiking poles. When you travel internationally you cannot bring these on the plane, even wrapped in bubble wrap or a blanket. But nearly all trekking poles are telescoping, meaning they loosen and then slide into smaller sections. Instead of leaving them at home, collapse them as small as you can and fit them in your checked luggage, If your poles don't telescope small enough, they also might be able to be taken apart. If you don't know how to do this, take them to a reputable outdoor store and ask for help. You want to be able to get them back together when you arrive!

Clearly, if your luggage does not arrive, neither will your hiking poles. But chances are everything will get to the baggage claim when you do. If you are traveling only with carry on luggage - try to find a place that you can rent poles when you arrive, or another person to travel with them for you. Hike on! -- Deb

Ssshhhh...

Traveling in a group is a fantastic way to travel. There is great conversation, laughter, support for when you are tired/cold/wet/etc, and extra added security of "safety in numbers". There are people to take photos of you (and you of them), to share scenic vistas, great meals and create wonderful memories. Traveling in a group, however, also can diminish what we can get out of the natural world we are visiting. Given that it can be soemtimes difficult to find a quiet spot away from the group, I recommend a group silent moment(s).

I was reminded of this on a recent kayaking trip to the Apostle Islands. We had a terrificly fun, funny, and chatty group. On our last morning, though, we had a moment of silence on the water and then a silent paddle back to the shore (about 10 minutes). We had seen and heard so much during our 4 days together, but in those few minutes of silence - it was incredible how much more there was to hear. The sounds intensified as we ceased our outter (and hopefully inner) chatter. It was truly memorable as well.

So, next time you are on a group trip, take some time out to observe nature in silence, and see what you can hear, see, feel, and smell. Silence really is golden. --Deb

A new web site of interest

I was recently alerted to a web site that might solve two of the vexing problems of booking airline tickets: 1) trying to make sure you don't miss the sales (especially the ones that last 24 hours; and 2) forgetting to check to see if the price has gone down since you bought the ticket (in which case you should get a voucher or a refund. The web site is www.yapta.com. Unfortunately they don't yet have the ability to work with a macintosh computer so I have no first hand experience. But if the web site lives up to its own publiciti, it should be extremely useful.--Marian

Beautiful Florida

I have always loved Florida despite the stereotyped image of over-crowded, developed beaches. If you look hard enough you can still enjoy the native beauty of the place. I just ran into a friend who had recently returned from a vacation on Captiva Island on the southwestern coast of Florida. She had nothing but great things to report, so I thought I would pass it on. The island has no big hotels or developments. Rather it offers old-fashioned cottages on the beach. There is great shelling, kayaking, canoeing, biking, dolphin watching, and dining. Google it up and see what you think. I am going to keep it in mind for next time I feel like heading south. Tamar

Preparing for losing your wallet

So you're on a trip and you lose your wallet or, even worse, it gets stolen. You know you need to call your credit card companies, especially if you use debit cards, to report the theft. But you're not home! So you don't have the number. So now you have to bug a partner, friend, relative to find a statement with the number on it and then you call it, but by then someone has charged a million dollars to your account and you're broke and homeless.

OK, I may be exaggerating because you are only liable for $50 on stolen credit cards. But it is a pain. So here's the solution- on a piece of paper, write down all your credit card numbers and the toll free number to call for each one. Then make two copies of it, leave one at home and put one in your suitcase or any item you always take on a trip. If it is an international trip, put one copy in your passport holder.-- Marian